Welcome to Texas on the Potomac’s “The Week Ahead,” a preview of events to come on Capitol Hill and at the White House this week. This week’s report was written by William K. Moore of ViaNovo.

• • •

Congress returns Monday from recess to tackle sales taxes on items bought online, water development and a measure to ease default on Treasury bonds when the debt limit is breached. In committee, Senators begin to work on immigration reform. Behind the scenes, President Barack Obama seeks a permission structure that would allow a grand fiscal bargain without his direct support.

Billy Moore

Senators plan to complete action on legislation to allow the collection of taxes on Internet sales. Next on the agenda is a water resources authorization. Representatives look to pass a measure allowing employers to offer time off instead of paying time-and-a-half for overtime and a bill specifying Treasury Department priorities in the event of a default.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to markup comprehensive immigration reform beginning May 9, a process is expected to take weeks.

At last week’s press conference, President Obama said he cannot force congressional Republicans to embrace compromise when “their base thinks that comprise with me is somehow betrayal…we’re going to try to do everything we can to create a permission structure for them to be able to do what’s going to be best for the country.”

Facebook Photo

A “permission structure” is the idea behind the President’s cultivation of a bipartisan group of senators who can reach a budget deal that involves higher taxes and lower entitlement spending without his direct participation. The White House is encouraging discussions among lawmakers while stepping back form the talks to avoid Republican opposition based on the President’s support.

The President hopes Senate negotiators agree to a package that could win enough Republican votes in the House and Senate. If Republicans senators agree to a deal, the White House bets that 62 House Republicans who bucked their party on two of three votes this year – on spending, taxes or Sandy aid – might perceive an environment giving them permission to support it.